What if the first capital of an entrepreneur was the confidence she has in herself?
On July 23, 2026, in Bugarama, 16 women entrepreneurs from phase 1 of the Women Standing Incubator gathered for two sessions dedicated to personal development. At a time when their businesses are starting to face their first challenges, they worked on three essential levers: better self-knowledge, recognizing one’s value, and daring to act.
In the Women Standing Incubator, supporting an entrepreneur does not only mean working on her business plan, sales, or management. It also means empowering the woman who carries the business. Because entrepreneurship requires much more than technical skills: one must dare to make decisions, defend her price, negotiate, seek funding, speak up, and make her ideas heard.
Seeing oneself differently
The exercise of the “positive mirror” particularly impacted the participants. Each received messages from the other women highlighting her qualities and strengths.
Some discovered in the eyes of others resources they did not yet recognize in themselves: perseverance, courage, listening skills, leadership…
Recognizing one’s value is a first step. But feeling capable of acting is another.
The “line of confidence” a allowed the participants to explore this difference. Each positioned herself facing a concrete situation – making a decision, speaking in public, negotiating or leading – and was then invited to take a step towards more confidence.
For one of the participants, faced with the fear of making decisions, this small step was a significant moment. Her reaction? « I feel encouraged and supported. »
From confidence to action
The participants also experienced situations close to their daily lives: saying no to an unfair request, defending their work, asking for support, or speaking up with confidence.
These exercises show that personal development is not just a simple time of well-being. It is a true entrepreneurial tool. Strengthening self-esteem and confidence allows women to better recognize their abilities and mobilize them to make decisions, seize opportunities, and grow their business.
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